SEC Explores 24/7 Trading as Crypto Markets ‘Don’t Sleep’

24/7 trading — The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission held a roundtable on September 17, 2026, to explore expanding traditional securities markets into overnight trading, a model long standard in crypto.

The event, held at the SEC’s Washington headquarters, occurred shortly after the agency approved an order for tokenized securities trading. Discussions highlighted how tokenization could be a key mechanism for enabling extended trading hours.

During the roundtable, SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins noted that while traditional markets are grappling with the logistics, cryptocurrency markets “don’t sleep,” operating continuously. The dialogue marks a significant regulatory step toward aligning traditional finance infrastructure with the round-the-clock nature of digital asset markets.

The move signals the SEC’s formal consideration of structural changes that could bridge the operational gap between legacy securities trading and the crypto ecosystem.